2 Big Island men held after drug raids

The separate arrests netted pot plants and other paraphernalia

Big Island police seized $776,970 worth of marijuana and hashish and arrested two men in separate incidents, according to a news release.

On Tuesday, police served a search warrant at the home of John Ford, 60, in Waawaa and found 309 marijuana plants, 266 grams of processed marijuana, and equipment used for growing and selling marijuana. Two loaded firearms were also discovered.

Police estimated the street value of the drugs at $313,690.

Prosecutors charged Ford with first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and five firearms offenses. His bail was set at $6,600.

On Wednesday, police served search warrants at two Leilani Estates homes owned or rented by David Coke of Puna.

After arriving at one of Coke's homes, police chased him to his second home, where he was arrested.

At the first home, police found 37 outdoor marijuana plants, 343 indoor plants, about 14 pounds of processed marijuana and seven grams of hashish, along with growing and selling equipment.

In the second home, police discovered about seven pounds of marijuana, seven grams of hashish, and drug paraphernalia.